File:Handbook of birds of eastern North America, with keys to the species and descriptions of their plumages, nests, and eggs (1901) (14748719822).jpg

Identifier: handbookofbirdso00chap (find matches)
Title: Handbook of birds of eastern North America, with keys to the species and descriptions of their plumages, nests, and eggs ..
Year: 1901 (1900s)
Authors: Chapman, Frank M. (Frank Michler), 1864-1945
Subjects: Birds
Publisher: New York, D. Appleton and Co.
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Smithsonian Libraries

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0 to Nov. 1; locallycommon W. V. Nest., of coarse grasses, rootlets, dead leaves, strips of bark, etc., lined withfiner grasses and sometimes long hairs, on the ground, sometimes in bushes.Eggs., four to five, white or bluish white, with numerous rufous-brown mark-ings which sometimes nearly conceal the ground color, 76 x 60. The Song Sparrows vast range in a dozen varying climates, itsreadiness to adapt itself to the different conditions in each of the re-gions it inhabits, its numerical abundance and steady increase whilesome of its family are dying out, its freedom from disease and vermin,and its perennial good spirits evidenced by its never-failing music—uU proclaim that it is indeed one of Natures successes. Its irrepressible vivacity and good spirits in spite of all circum-stances are aptly illustrated by the fact that its song may be heard inevery month of the year and in all weathers; also by night as well asby day—for nothing is more common in the darkest nights than to ^
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Song Sparrow.Swamp Sparrow. FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 307 hear its sweet chant in half-conscious answer to the hooting of theOwl or even the report of a gun. It is never seen far from water, and when it is alarmed it fliesdownward or along—never upward—into some low thicket, pumpingits tail as it flies. Its alarm note is a simple metallic chip, which is very distinctivewhen once learned. But its merry chant—which has won for it thename of Song Sparrow—is its best-known note. It is a volubleand uninterrupted but short refrain, and is perhaps the sweetest ofthe familiar voices of the meadow lands. The song that it occasion-ally utters while on the wing is of quite a different character, beingmore prolonged and varied. Though so abundant, it can not be styled a sociable species. Evenduring the migrations it is never seen in compact flocks like the Red-poll or Snowflake ; at most it will be found forming a part of a long,scattered migrating train that usually includes a number of di

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